FORT WAYNE – A Fort Wayne man was incarcerated Sunday evening after allegedly leading troopers on a high-speed vehicle pursuit that ended in a crash and subsequent foot chase in southwest Allen County.
The incident began yesterday evening at approximately 6:30 p.m. after a state trooper attempted to stop Andrew Dickerman, 38, of Fort Wayne, for a simple speed violation on US 24 near Roanoke in Huntington County.
Rather than pull over, Dickerman allegedly sped off and fled from the trooper, initiating a high-speed pursuit that reached speeds well over 100mph.
The pursuit ran eastbound on County Road 900 North (Lafayette Center Road) into Allen County, northbound on I-69, east on Airport Expressway, and northbound on Branstrator Road. Dickerman allegedly disregarded the Lower Huntington Road intersection at high speed, lost control of the 2014 Ford Escape SUV, crashed through a fence, and then crashed into a utility pole. As the state trooper pulled up to the crash scene, Dickerman is alleged to have fled the wreckage on foot.
State Police Patrol K9 “Knox” then chased and apprehended Dickerman quickly. K9 Knox maintained control of his suspect until his handler and assisting officers from Fort Wayne and Allen County Police Department officer arrived to apply the handcuffs.
Following the apprehension, troopers learned that the Ford Escape SUV had been reported stolen from an Allen County residence on March 14, 2024.
Southwest Fire crews were dispatched to the scene to handle the utility pole/electrical transformer fire that resulted from the crash impact, which also led to electrical wires down on the ground and a residential power outage.
Dickerman was transported by ambulance from the scene to a local hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. Once treated, he was released and transported to the Allen County Jail, where he was booked into custody on charges of resisting law enforcement, a Level 5 felony, vehicle theft, a Level 6 felony, resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor, and interfering or striking a law enforcement animal, reckless driving, possession of a controlled substance, operating a vehicle while his driver’s license was suspended, all Class A misdemeanors and leaving the scene of an accident, a Class B misdemeanor.
This remains an active investigation.
State Troopers were assisted by the Fort Wayne and Allen County Police Departments, Southwest Fire/EMS personnel, and Parker’s Towing Service.
